Their signature style is dreamy slow songs, with beautiful melodies.
The original band, including Mike Bitts (bass), and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 80s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell. Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris does most of the group's writing.
Their eponymous debut album, released in 1989 (A&M Records), was produced by Larry Klein, then-husband of Joni Mitchell, and recorded in the couple’s basement recording studio. The album peaked on the Billboard charts at #167 in 1990, and the album’s second track, "Black Sheep Wall", released as a single in 1989, peaked at #22 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks. The album’s fifth track, "Clear to You", was used on the soundtrack of the pilot episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Klein also produced their 1991 follow up, Umbrella.
Their third and final A&M album, Glow, released in 1995 (A&M Records), Was produced by Dennis Herring, who had previously produced two records for Camper Van Beethoven. This album is a departure from Klein's heavier production style. Whereas the first two releases may have brought to mind The Sundays and The Cocteau Twins with their moody keyboards, Herring's lighter touch gave more emphasis to the group's guitar work and to Karen's vocals and lyrics.
Glow contains songs that appear on the soundtracks of the films Empire Records, and Dream for an Insomniac, as well as the television series Party of Five. The album’s second track, Bright as Yellow, peaked on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks at #33.
In 1999 the band recorded for a new label, Badman. Additionally, drummer Steve Brown left the band to pursue a career as a chef. On the subsequent album, Birds of My Neighborhood, Brown played drums and brushes on "Snow," but otherwise the group became a trio. Now bereft of drums, their sound took an even more acoustic direction. Some songs featured just Don and Karen, and a few, such as "She May Turn Around," featured only Karen's voice and instrumentation.
The 2000 release of Christ is My Hope, featuring religious music that had inspired them over the years, was independently released on their own website. Small Planes, released in 2001, featured outtakes from Glow and Birds of My Neighborhood. 2003's Befriended was their next "regular" album.
In 2004, the Innocence Mission released Now the Day is Over, a collection of lullabies. Except for "My Love Goes With You," all songs are cover versions, such as a stripped-down vocal and piano rendition of Henry Mancini's Moon River,
The Innocence Mission's new album We Walked in Song was released March 13, 2007.
Fare Thee Well
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And leave you for awhile
Wherever I go, I will return
If I go ten thousand miles
If I go, if I go, if I go ten thousand miles
Oh, ten thousand miles it is so far
To leave me here alone
And you'll, you'll not hear my mourn
And you'll, no you'll, and you'll not hear my mourn
Oh, the crow that is so black, my love
Will change his color white
If ever I should prove false to thee
The day, day will turn to night
Yes, the day, oh the day, yes the day will turn to night
The Innocence Mission's song "Fare Thee Well" speaks of love and longing, with the singer expressing her need to leave her loved one temporarily but promising to return. The opening line "Oh fare thee well, I must be gone, And leave you for awhile" establishes the imminent departure of the singer and sets the melancholic tone of the song. The repetition of the phrase "If I go ten thousand miles" emphasizes the distance they will be apart and shows the determination of the singer to come back to her loved one despite the distance that separates them.
The second verse of the song continues to portray the singer's anxiety about leaving her loved one. She expresses her fears of being left alone with the lines, "Oh, ten thousand miles it is so far, To leave me here alone. Well, I may lie, lament and cry, And you'll, you'll not hear my mourn." The repetition of "you'll not hear my mourn" highlights the pain that the singer feels at the thought of being separated from her loved one.
The final verse of the song uses vivid imagery to convey the strength of the singer's love. She compares her love for her partner to the color black, which turns white under a certain condition. "Oh, the crow that is so black, my love, Will change his colour white, If ever I should prove false to thee, The day, day will turn to night." This line shows that the singer believes her love is pure and unchanging, and that she will never betray her partner. The song ends on this hopeful note, with the singer reaffirming her love and promising to come back.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh fare thee well, I must be gone
I have to leave now, so goodbye
And leave you for awhile
I'm leaving you alone for a period
Wherever I go, I will return
I'll come back no matter where I end up
If I go ten thousand miles
Even if I travel so far
Oh, ten thousand miles it is so far
The distance is great
To leave me here alone
I'll be by myself in this place
Well, I may lie, lament and cry
I might express grief and sadness
And you'll, you'll not hear my mourn
But you won't hear me grieving
And you'll, no you'll, and you'll not hear my mourn
I'll miss you, but I won't burden you with my pain
Oh, the crow that is so black, my love
The bird I see is dark, my love
Will change his color white
But it can change into something new
If ever I should prove false to thee
If I ever betray you
The day, day will turn to night
It'll feel like darkness has taken over
Yes, the day, oh the day, yes the day will turn to night
My actions will have consequences, which will hurt us both
Contributed by Sarah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
megansspark
music to my ears :) God bless my friend
megansspark
they are wonderful... I have almost all of their cd's now and can listen from beginning to end :)
megansspark
your words make me smile, thank you!
Brian Dorn
Very, very nice - you have wonderful taste in music and in art.
sherrylynn70 aka Sentimental Journey Productions
Hello..such a beautiful song I have never heard before..and, a lovely interpretation...So nice to visit..been awhile..but, I always enjoy coming here..God Bless you and yours always..sherry
Mark Yuhas
What a wonderful little song and video. Thank you to reliablebow for the share
weeknightingale
Splendid!
BPanther
Thank you for this wonderful Video !
zeena61
Everything you mention in the tags is included in this video! 5 *****
David Rogue
great video....5 stars!